Holi

Today, the 15th of March, is Holi, a nationally celebrated festival. As I walked into the computer room, the Indian attendant looked at me and asked where is my color. I smiled and asked for access to the computer. She also smiled, turned on the computer and several seconds later came back with yellow powder in her hand asking is she could apply some to my face. Of course she could.

Holi is a festive occasion that can best be described as a combination of Mardi Gras and a little bit of Chanukah. Called the festival of colors, it is a favorite of both children and fun-loving adults as they are permitted to throw hand-fulls of colored powder at anyone within reach and to hurl water bombs (balloons) at those who are already powdered, tending to permanentize the powder. I intend to buy an inexpensive, disposable shirt to wear today just in case.

As explained to me, King Hiranyakashipu, probably a contemporary of King David, demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praying to him. His son Prahlad, however, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several threats from dad, Prahlad continued offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. Getting pissed at his son, Hiranyakashipu tried various ways of killing him, but failed. Ultimately he ordered young Prahlad to sit on a pyre on the lap of his sister Holika (who some say was a wicked lady), who could not die by fire by virtue of a magic shawl which if worn would not let the person wearing be affected by fire. Prahlad readily accepted the challenge, and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as the shawl flew from Holika, who, then was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar because the shawl moved on to cover him. The burning of Holika by lighting bon-fired the night before starts the festival which carries through the full day following. In addition to the clouds of colored powder that fill the air, nostrils and pores, a great deal of bhang (an illegal but easily obtained potion made of pulverized marijuana leaves) is consumed adding life to the many parties. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the locals. The festival also, Passover-like, heralds the approach of spring.

Most of the shops being closed for the holiday, I hired a driver to take to me to Laksmi's Temple. I was stunned to see the city, which is always choked with rivers of humanity, virtually deserted. Must be the holi-day (get it??).

Goddess Lakshmi is the consort or wife of Lord Vishnu and is the goddess of prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity. Her four hands represent four spiritual virtues. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus, a seat of divine truth. Her personal charm is considered par excellence. An aura of divine happiness, mental and spiritual satisfaction, and prosperity always exist around her. Her temple is a large red and white structure which contains not only statutes of Laksmi, but of seven or eight of the principal dieties or their incarnations. By the way, an incarnation is not the same as a rebirth. Only Gods can be incarnated to appear to mortals in human or animal form. Vishnu is going on his tenth which will be a rider on a white horse at the Hindu end of days. Humans undergo countless rebirths, but that's not good, since it means that they have not achieved Moksha....but that's another story to come. On to Varanasi.